How we identified the area to be worked in
The area of the city in which the replacement programme was to be undertaken was established using Southern Water intelligence, including road maps of data of burst mains and a series of tests in 58 locations.
Sections of main were cut out and metallurgical and destructive testing carried out. This identified the parameters of the working area which was both residential and commercial.
How we are carrying out the work
Many of the ageing water pipes are being replaced by using trench work. We will dig a trench and replace the old metal pipe completely with a new plastic one. The trenches will be fenced with metal barriers to ensure the safety of residents during the work.
Wherever, possible, we will use an efficient new process called ‘pipe bursting’ to replace the pipes. The disruption to residents is kept to a minimum as fewer roads need to be dug up.
Nearly all the work is done under the ground with only two small pits dug at each end of the section of pipe that is being replaced. The old main is carefully broken up underground with a steel rod and a cutting tool and, at the same time, a new pipe is put in its place.
Unfortunately, if gas mains, telephone lines, road surfaces or even basements are too close to our water mains, we will not be able to use this method.
Listening to customers
Sometimes traditional working methods are not suitable for Brighton for a number of reasons. The city centre is compact, with many locations a mix of business and residential and in environmentally sensitive areas with period buildings.
Therefore, we have used varying working techniques and materials in some locations. For example, a chain digger was used on the A259 Kingsway, the main seafront route, because the road is supported on a series of single-skinned brick arches which were originally fishermen’s lock-ups and are now clubs and restaurants.
Advanced structure and environment surveys were carried out along the route which stated that conventional excavations had the potential to collapse the arches along the key transport route.
In conjunction with the forum, we aim to co-ordinate the work with business needs. For example, in Sydney Street work was carried out in a few days in September to avoid the Christmas period. We used special pipes that did not need five days of cleaning once in the ground, as they are already specially cleansed.
